It’s a 4am ‘nightmare’ for pub’s neighbours

RESIDENTS living near a pub in Angel are calling on the council to cut its weekend opening hours, claiming Friday and Saturday nights have become a “nightmare”.

The Winchester has been told its 4am licence will be reviewed by councillors on Tuesday after complaints of customers fighting and urinating in the street late at night.

Sarah Fraser, of Colebrooke Row, supported by her neighbours, triggered the hearing by questioning the venue’s closing time – one of the latest in the area at weekends.

In her statement to Islington’s licensing panel, she said: “Over the last few years, Friday and Saturday nights have become a nightmare. There has been no attempt by The Winchester to control this anti-social behaviour. It is unacceptable for a bar surrounded on all sides by residential flats and homes to have such long licensing hours.”

Police said that last year there were a total of 10 reported incidents involving the pub, on the corner of Essex Road and St Peter’s Street, including three “serious assaults” after 2am.

PC Petros Loizou said that, following a visit to the pub in November, officers recommended a new door security team and cutting the licence back to 2am, including 20 minutes’ “drinking-up” time.

In documents circulated ahead of the review, the council’s licensing team said the premises has “one of the latest alcohol licences” within the nearby area.

It adds: “The level of crime and disorder incidents linked to the venue over the last six months has been significant and there is little confidence that lessons have been learned.”

Eleven residents support the licence review and one said the noise in the early hours was “very disturbing”.

The Tribune contacted the pub’s management for comment, but had not received a response at the time of going to press.